Ball-type applicator device



Aug. 7, 1962 R. L. HUBBARD BALL-TYPE AFPLICATOR DEVICE INVENTOR.

ROBERT L. HUBBARD BY mm H 5 1M114 ATTORNEY Filed Jan. 26, 1960 atent h Bfiflfibl i atented Aug. 7, 1962 3,u47,9tl1 BALL-TYPE APPLKCATOR DEVlCE Robert L. Hubbard, Fiorham Park, NIL, assignor to Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company, Morris Plains, NJ a corporation of Delaware Filed fan. 26, 196i), Ser. No. 4,755 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-55) This invention rel-ates to an applicator and relates more particularly toa new and novel ball-type applicator structure provided with a freely-rotatable ball dispenser means and adapted to contain the material being dispensed in the form of a semi-solid and self-supported cylindrical rod and to feed this material to the ball applicator by means of a spring-biased piston thus enabling said material to be fed to the ballwith uniform pressure and to be dispensed on to any surface with which the ball is brought into contact.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved ball-type applicator means adapted to be charged with a semi-solid cylindrical rod formed of the material to be dispensed and which will dispense said material evenly and uniformly when the applicator is stroked across a surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ball-type applicator means in which the ball dispenser and the material being dispensed may be readily and conveniently separated from the rod feed means constituting the remainder of the device and replaced by another assembly comprising a ball dispenser and a different rod of the material being dispensed so that a color change may be effected rapidly and conveniently.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a ball-type applicator means in which the color of the semi-solid cylindrical rod of the material being dispensed is clearly visible and easily recognized at all times.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a ball dispenser in which the ball is easily and freely rotatable in the mounting and which provides ample contact between the ball surface and the full cross-Sectional area of the rod of material being dispensed.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view, in section, of the applicator structure of my invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the preferably transparent ferrule section of the applicator structure through which the cylindrical mass being dispensed passes and through which it may be viewed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ferrule taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the ball assembly, which is adapted to fit one end of the ferrule showing certain details of the ball seating means,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the ball applicator and seating means shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and

FIG. 6 is an end view of the applicator and ball seating means with the ball omitted for purposes of clarity of illustration.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, the applicator structure of this invention comprises an outer shell or casing 6 provided with a cap 7 both of which are removably mounted on a ferrule generally indicated by reference numeral 8 by means of a frictional or sliding fit on the smooth outer surfaces of shoulders 9 and 10, respectively, of the ferrule 8. The ferrule 8 is preferably transparent and is provided with a circumferential and uncovered portion 11 which permits inspection of the color of the material contained within the applicator.

The ball applicator assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 12, comprises a hollow sleeve 13 of substantially uniform internal diameter which is provided with a threaded end 14 for engagement with internal threads 15 in the shoulder 10 of the ferrule 8. The sleeve is provided at the opposite end with a tip 16 provided with means, to be described hereinafter, for retaining a freely-rotatable applicator ball 17. The applicator ball may be formed of any convenient material, for example, glass, metal, plastic and the like and has a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the sleeve 13. In lieu of a threaded fit, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a press fit also may be utilized for assembling the ball assembly 12 into the ferrule 8. The ball assembly may be provided with a knurled or fluted ring 18 to facilitate convenient removal from the ferrule.

The mass which is dispensed by the rotation of ball 17 and which may be, for example, lipstick, eye shadow or other semi-solid selfsupporting cosmetic compositions, is contained within the casing 6 in the form of a cylindrical rod 2d of a diameter less than that of the ball 17. Rod 21} is urged forward and held against ball 17 by the action of compressed coil spring 21 which encircles the base 22 and abuts the shoulder 23 of piston 24-. The forward end of piston 24 is preferably provided with a concave tip 25' which cradles the end of lipstick rod 2%) to prevent any lateral movement.

Further to limit any lateral movement of lipstick rod 20 and to prevent the color from marking off on the inner surface of the passageway provided, the ferrule 8 is provided with a plurality of circumferential, longitudinal splines 26 which act both to guide and space said lipstick rod 20 from the internal ferrule surface.

The applicator ball 17 as shown more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6 is firmly seated but freely rotatable in the tip 16 of the hollow sleeve 13, being seated upon a plurality of radially disposed internal studs 27 which protrude from the inner surface of the sleeve 13 to provide seating means and prevent the ball from falling down into the sleeve. These seats are preferably formed with a generally concave surface conforming to the surface of the applicator ball. The ball is retained within the tip 16 by means of a plurality of radially distributed indentations 28 which are shaped to protrude sufficiently from the inner surface thereof to engage the surface of the applicator ball 17 and to retain it within the tip in spite of v the pressure exerted by the spring 21. A space 29 is thus provided between the surface of the ball and the inner surface of the applicator tip except for those areas where'the studs 27 and indentations 28 are in contact with applicator ball 17. This resulting clearance permits the lipstick mass 20 to pass freely through the applicator tip when the ball is rotated.

Since the ball, while freely rotatable, is retained in a fixed position relative to the applicator, the size of the clearance 29 is independent of the pressure applied to the ball when the applicator is in use. This is a particular advantage of the applicator of this invention in comparison with applicators of the prior art adapted to feed a semi-liquid type of mass. In such applicators the actual clearance for passage of the mass which is formed around the ball when the latter is depressed in use is dependent upon the pressure applied to the ball and against the feed pressure, with a result that uniform feeding becomes difiicult. Also, such applicators tend to become clogged due to evaporation of volatile ingredients from the semiliquid composition. Such disadvantages are eliminated in the applicator of this invention.

While the number of ball supporting studs and ball reand to minimize color mixing at the ball.

a taining indentations is not critical, it is generally preferred that there be three of each, spaced alternately around the circumference of the tip and separated by an angle of 60 from one another, as illustrated in FIG. 6. If one constructs circles intersecting the innermost projections of the studs 27 and the indentations 23, the diameters of these circles are less than the diameter or" the ball. In addition, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 5, it is essential that the diameter of the mass 26 be no greater than the diameter of a circle constructed through the innermost projections of the studs 2'7. This is necessary to permit smooth feeding of the mass to the ball when the ball is rotated.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the outside surface of the tip 16 is depressed at the location of the studs 27, due to the meet an appropriate shaping toolto form the studs. Thus, the tool forces the material of which the tip is formed, for example, metal or other deformable material, into conformity with the surface of the ball in the area to be occupied by the studs. The studs may also be formed by the conventional machining operations of drilling and broaching, in which case the outside surface of the tip 16 is smooth in the area of the studs. 1

In order to illustrate the operation of the applicator of this invention, it will be described in connection with the application of lipstick. In ordinary use for the application of lipstick, the ball 1'7 is stroked across the lips.

The rotation of the ball 17 picks up a small amount ofspring 21 and piston 24. As the rod 26 shortens during use spring 21 expands until shoulder 23 touches shoulder 9 of ferrule '8 and concave tip 25 of piston 24 comes into contact with ball 17. A refill rod 20 may then be inserted by unscrewing ball applicator assembly 12 from ferrule 8. In the event a change in shade is desired before lipstick rod 20 has been completely utilized, ball applicator assembly 12 may be unscrewed and thus separated from the splined ferrule 8 and both the ball applicator assembly 12 and lipstick rod 20, now ejected by piston 24, are removed from the remainder of the applicator structure. A refill consisting of another ball applicator assembly 12 containing a lipstick rod 26 in a different shade is then inserted against the pressure of spring 21 on piston 24 and when threaded in, the refilled applicator is ready for use. The very slight color mark-off on the surface of splines 26 does not impair the clarity and uniformity of the new refill color. Another ball applicator assembly 12 is substituted only for convenience One important and novel feature of the applicator structure of this in- Vention is the provision of a ferruleof a molded transparent or translucent material so that the color of lipstick rod 20 is readily visible at all times.

The applicator of this invention may, of course, be used to apply cosmetic compositions other than lipstick, for example, eye shadow and the like. a

It is understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the Spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 7

1. In a ball-point applicator structure having a springbiased piston adapted to engage one end of a rod of a semi-solid substance and maintain it in contact with a rotatably mounted ball held in a ball retaining means whereby rotation of said ball when stroked in contact with a surface causes a film of said substance to be applied thereto, the improvement which comprises providing a passageway for said rod and spring-biased piston leading to said ball and means for contacting and guiding said rod and piston on longitudinal spring-pressed movement thereof comprising a plurality of circumferentially disposed splines on the inner surface of a portion of said passageway, said portion comprising a ferrule having the ball retaining means separably mounted therein, said ball retaining means comprising :a hollow member of substantially uniform internal diameter, said diameter being larger than the diameter of said ball, said member being provided adjacent to one end thereof with a plurality of internally extending spaced studs below said ball to form seats adapted to prevent said ball from being forced into said member when being stroked and a plurality of internally extending spaced indentations at the tip of said member which contact said ball and prevent it from being forced out of said member under the pressure exerted by said spring, the diameters of circles drawn through the innermost projections of said studs and said indentations being less than the diameter of said ball, said ball being held between said studs and said indentations Within said hollow member in a freely rotatable condition, the diameter of said circle drawn through the innermost projections of said studs being not less than the diameter of said rod.

2. A ball-point applicator according to claim 1 wherein said ferrule is formed of a translucent material.

3. A ball-point applicator according to claim 1 wherein the end of said piston which contacts said rod is concave in shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

